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Travel guide: Brasilia

July 22, 2013 /

Brasilia, Brazil

Pilot Masterplan by Lucio
Costa.

Being not only the federal capital of Brazil, but also
the acropolis of modernistic architecture and the playground of
master architect and Pritzker Prize laureate Oscar Niemeyer,
Brasilia is definitely a trip worthy for anyone with an itch for
great proportions, concrete, master plans and socialistic
architecture.

This travel guide takes you through some of the most
important and impressive public buildings of Brasilia.

The master plan

Built on three men's vision, planned and developed in just 41
months, Brasilia came about under the slogan of president Juscelino
Kubitschek "50 years in 5" in 1960.

As early as 1827 the idea of a region-neutral capital to replace
the southeastern Rio de Janeiro emerged and in 1891 this was stated
in the country's first republican constitution. But until president
Juscelino Kubitschek's election in 1956 and the hiring of master
planner Lucio Costa and the young architect Oscar Niemeyer
(1907-2012), the plan remained on the sketch board.

The city resembles the layout of an airplane, with government
and administrative buildings as the body of the plane, while
residential and shopping areas are placed in the wings. On ground
gigantic boulevards and straight lined views dominate.

When Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin saw the city from above, he
aptly pointed that he felt he had landed on a strange planet.

Brasilia - a monument of progress and equality

Brasilia is a monument of process, a demonstration of the skills
of the Brazilian people and a textbook of modernistic space age
architecture.

Oscar Niemeyer's innovative and experimenting use of concrete
and his monumental, symbolic idiom acquired from Le Corbusier,
still stand as unique inspirations for architects today.

True to the modernistic vision architecture in itself wasn't a
goal, and for Niemeyer the vision was one of equality and a better
future for mankind:

It is important that the architect think not only
of architecture but of how architecture can solve the problems of
the world. The architect's role is to fight for a better
world, where he can produce an architecture that serves everyone
and not just a group of privileged people.

Clad in marble and granite, held in a simple and modern idiom
underlined by the straight horizontal lining and the striking
curved, feminine columns, which Niemeyer compared to feathers
lightly landing on the ground, the cool and delicate façade exudes
the calmness and overview needed when running a presidency.

The dominating ramp, a feature that recurs in several of
Niemeyer's projects, leaves you with the feeling of reverence and
awe, openness and invitation. It is a majestic yet inviting
building, exactly as the power in the new capital was
envisioned.

Inside, the building is a masterpiece of modern architecture.
Lustrous columns and the beautifully curved access ramp between the
first and second floor dominate the hall, lifting the public space
from mere function to a state of the art of modernistic
architecture.

Somewhat resembling the Palacio do Planalto, Palacio da Alvorada
(the Palace of Dawn) was the first government building built in
Brasilia and like Palacio do Planalto is based on the principles of
simplicity and modernity.

The pillars, though, are somewhat heavier and its more organic
façade send a quick thought in the direction of art nouveau master
Antoni Gaudi.

The main feature in the entrance hall is a golden wall inscribed
with the words of president Kubitschek:

"From this central plateau, this vast loneliness that will
soon become the center of national decisions, I look once more at
the future of my country and foresee this dawn with an unshakeable
faith in its great destiny - Juscelino Kubitschek, October 2,
1956"

The essence of this modern and beautiful Cathedral of Brasilia,
which took more than 10 years to construct, are in the 16 concrete
columns, weighing 90 tons each, the absence of dark corners, and a
mouth-blown glass roof.

The cathedral is a hyperboloid structure, where strength and
decoration go hand in hand. The architectural language is like the
other Niemeyer projects, sleek and simple, but differs slightly
from the profane buildings with its beautiful blue-green glass
panels designed by French artist Marianne Peretti.

The original panels were mouth-blown, with varying thickness,
and high temperatures in the interior of the Cathedral had caused
some to break. During the restoration from 2009 to 2012 both the
exterior glazing and glass panels have been replaced.

Niemeyer wished to avoid the traditional darknees found in older
religious buildings that according to the architect only serves as
a reminiscent of sin, and chose in contrast to bathe the cathedral
in light and color.

The building serves as a whispering gallery and the acoustic in
the cathedral is amazing. Whisper your secrets to the walls and be
sure anyone with an ear glued to the wall on the opposite side of
the domed room will hear them. The acoustics also ensure that mass
can be said without microphone.

Museo Nacional Architect: Oscar Niemeyer
Inaugurated: 2006

Museo Nacional by
Oscar Niemeyer, photo: Sara Schjødt Tørnsø.

The Museo Nacional is one of Niemeyer's later buildings,
inaugurated in 2006. The museum is located on the Eixo Monumental
next to the Cathedral of Brasilia, and forms together with another
Niemeyer project, the National Library, the Cultural Complex of the
Republic (Complexo Cultural da Republica).

14,500 square meters (156,000 sq ft) exhibit area, two
780-seat auditoriums, and a laboratory. All of it covered by a huge
dome with ramps running in and out leaving an impression of an
estranged UFO in Brazil.

By letting the ramp cut through the concrete and snaking its way
round and in and out of the building, Niemeyer has created a piece
of symbolic architecture, stating that once you dare enter the
seemingly impenetrable world of art, the world might not be that
impenetrable after all.

The museum mainly displays temporary art exhibitions.

More Niemeyer

Other works by Niemeyer on the list of not-to-miss.

The Palacio dos Arcos or Palacio dos Itamaraty (Ministry of
External Relations). The building is especially beautiful in the
evening with the water reflecting the lit pillars.

Palacio dos Arcos by Oscar Niemeyer, photo: Sara
Schjødt Tørnsø.

Juscelino Kubitschek Memorial

Juscelino Kubitschek
Memorial, photo: Sara Schjødt Tørnsø.

Otherwise referred to as the JK Memorial it houses not just the
former president, but also his private library and several personal
belongings. Climb to the top and get a great view of the city and
its monument buildings.

And last but not least the Palacio da Justica (Ministry of
Justice) and its water cascading from between the arches, also
located on the Monumental Axis.

Palacio da
Justica, photo: Wikimedia Commons.

New in Brasilia

Even though one and the same man formed most of Brasilia's
iconic architecture, Niemeyer isn't the only architect to excel in
Brasilia. Here is a small dose on newer and interesting projects
worth seeking out.

Alphaville Brasilia Club House by DOMO Arquitetos
Year: 2012

Alphaville Brasilia Club
House, photo: DOMO Arquitetos.

DOMO Arquitetos have designed this clubhouse in the lower area
of a residential condominium in the outskirts of Brasilia. The
dominating roof structure hovering above pivoting doors makes a
beautifully balanced and complete project.

A stunning 2 thousand square meters steel grid on top of 7
concrete blades accompanied by the great staircase form
Alphaville's welcome center, a gated community in the outskirts of
Brasilia.

Sebrae Headquarters Architect: Gruposp Year: 2010

Sebrae
Headquater, photo: Nelson Kon.

Swirling concrete structures, grid roof, reflecting waters and
the ideal of openness in the public areas makes Sebrae's Headquater
a fittingly new addition to Brasilia's large office park.

Osler House by Architect: Marcio Kogan
Year: 2008

Osler House, photo:
Marco Kogan.

Here at arcspace.com we don't do a lot of one-family-homes but
here is an exception. Dozens of buildings in Brasilia, here among
Planalto Palace, Itamaraty and the National Theater are clad in
modular tile panels by Brazilian painter and sculptor Athos Bulcão,
and the Osler House has been lucky to get included in this
exclusive club.

Along with the great window panel, the concrete structure,
rotating wooden panels and careful landscape planning the Osler
House makes a wonderful contemporary interpretation of Brasilia's
design characteristics.

The Legislative Chamber of the Federal District is a newer
member of the public buildings on the Monumental Axis, adding a
light touch of color - almost a whiff of postmodernism - to the
traditional Brazilian modernism.

Brasilia 2060 - a new master plan

Brasilia is loved for its architecture, but hated for its lack
of urban life facilities and inhumane scale. Everyone agrees that
the city needs an upgrade meeting the needs of the citizens and
industries of today.

But there is great dispute over who and how this is done.
Brasilia Government has contracted consulting company Jurong from
Singapore to outline the next 50 years of Brasilia, and this is a
controversial choice causing a great stir among architects and
planners in the region.

Albert Dubler, president of the UIA (International Union of
Architects):

"The perplexing thing is that, if there are people here could do
the project, why go to Singapore?"

What is more disturbing is, that the contract was forged without
any pubic consultation or competition.

Facts

Brasilia was planned and developed on order from president
Juscelino Kubitschek from 1956 with Lúcio Costa as the
principal urban planner, Oscar Niemeyer as principal architect and
Roberto Burle Marx as landscape designer.

The city was planned to house 500.000 citizens, but has today
grown to about 2 mio., including the satellite cities. The
development of the area continues after the original plan after
exact legislative compliance here among restrictions on the
building's maximum height, the width of the streets, etc.